Side Hustle Pro

Side Hustle Pro spotlights bold black women entrepreneurs who have scaled from side hustle to profitable business. Join Chief Side Hustler turned full-time entrepreneur Nicaila Matthews Okome for your weekly installment of Side Hustle Pro and learn actionable strategies to start small and get going–wherever and whoever you are. Side Hustle Pro features interviews with inspiring black women entrepreneurs including interviews with Myleik Teele of CurlBox, Lisa Price of Carol's Daughter, Nicole Walters of The Monetized Life, Maya Elious of Built to Impact, and more!

I’m back with some updates and progress on my own side hustle and to report out on how my 12-Week Sprint went.

Today I will get into:

Why I decided to do a 12-Week Sprint

How I Structured My 12-Week Sprint

A Report out on my goals and accomplishments

And finally What I learned from my first 12-Week Sprint

If you want to try out your own 12-week sprint with me, I’ve created a handy worksheet for you to structure your goals over 12-weeks. Visit SideHustlePro.co/42 to grab the freebie for this episode, which is a complete12-Week Goal Getter Worksheet.

Announcements

Important Announcements:

Side Hustle Pro is now over 1600 members strong and the group is growing by hundreds each week. If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here: sidehustlepro.co/FACEBOOK

Social Media Info

Today, we are going to get into one of the most common side hustles out there: creating your own online course.

Nowadays, it seems like everyone and their mother has an online course. From how to grow your social media pages to how to build your first app, you name it, online courses are extremely prevalent these days. Even Shonda Rhimes has an online course!

It’s nothing new, online courses have existed for a while now, what’s new is the abundance of technology and plug and play platforms out there, so the barriers to entry have really decreased and so anyone, literally anyone can create a course. You can use easy to replace templates and have your own school up online in no time.

Now, you might be wondering, well…why is everyone creating courses, should I? Is this a viable side hustle?

Well, the reason it’s such a popular revenue stream, is because with an online course, you can package your knowledge and create a funnel, so that you’re constantly getting students and have a passive stream of income in your business. But hold on, before you think creating an online course is easy peasy, there are many steps you need to take before you can get your course to be a passive and consistent money maker.

Announcements

Important Announcements:

Side Hustle Pro is now over 1500 members strong and the group is growing by hundreds each week. If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here: http://sidehustlepro.co/mastermind

Social Media Info

Latesha Williamsis the Co-Founder of Cards For All People, AKA the makers of Black Card Revoked, a card game many of us know and love. Cards for All People is a cultural casual gaming company that humorously celebrates the diverse subcultures of America.

An accomplished sports & entertainment executive, Latesha is well networked and respected from her years of experience honed with companies such as Admiral’s Center, IMG, LeBron James / LRMR Marketing, MTV, Nickelodeon, and Rocawear.On this episode Latesha shares:

Why working for Lebron James at LRMR Marketing was like working for a start-up

What she did to figure out how to make her own card game

How learning to get her legal ducks in a row made the launch of Black Card Revoked that much smoother

How she zeroed in on her target market and got Black Card Revoked in front of the right influencers and publications

How she’s been able to get orders fulfilled in a seamless manner

Who you really need to target if you want your product in the hands of a celebrity

Announcements

Join in on the Instagram for Side Hustlers challenge happening all this week (March 5-March 9). Over 3500 people have tuned in so far! Register here to make sure you receive the free workbook, daily emails AND the recorded replay. I don't want you to miss any of it.I'm breaking down:

Side Hustle Pro is now over 1300 members strong and the group is growing by hundreds each week. If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here:http://sidehustlepro.co/mastermind

Social Media Info

Former Side Hustle Pro guest Maya Elious shared that the number one thing she would tell any entrepreneur is to niche down.

After her episode, a few people in the Side Hustle Pro community talked about how illuminating and critical this advice was. But a few people commented that it was hard for them to niche down, because they were worried about putting themselves into a box. Or to be labeled as one thing. That got me thinking about how too many times, we are scared to niche down and narrow our audience, because we are actually trying to focus on too many side hustles at once.

On this episode, I get real about:

Why trying to be a Janelle of All Trades leads you to be a master of none

Why you need to choose a lane

The fact that it’s hard to do more than one thing really well, especially if you are still working on being excellent at one. And definitely if you’re still side hustling.

Real life examples of people who are known for many things...and the secret to their success

How focusing on one side hustle at a time gives you more time to target the right audience

If you’re interested in growing your business and brand using the powers of Instagram, register for theMASTER THE GRAMmini course.Master The Gramis the ultimate Instagram course for business owners who want to attract their true fans and turn them into loyal, returning customers. In a series of four modules, plus a bonus module, you will learn how to leverage Instagram to grow your brand, drive traffic to your site and increase your income. REGISTER HERE:sidehustlepro.co/masterthegram

Side Hustle Pro is now over 1000 members strong. If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here:http://sidehustlepro.co/mastermind

Today’s guest,Kathryn Finney, is the Founder and Managing Director of digitalundivided (DID for short), an organization that invests in the success of Black and Latina women tech founders by providing them with the network, coaching, and funding to build, scale, and exit their high growth companies.

Kathryn was also one of the first social media “stars” and in 2014 sold her site, The Budget Fashionista, to a midwest media company and later was the editor at large at BlogHer, a platform representing 40MM+ women influencers.

Named by Inc Magazine as one of the most influential women in tech, Kathryn has made her mark as a tech entrepreneur, social media visionary, an advocate, investor, writer, and television correspondent.

Announcements

Important Announcements:

If you’re interested in growing your business and brand using the powers of Instagram, register forMASTER THE GRAM.Master The Gramis the ultimate Instagram course for business owners who want to attract their true fans and turn them into loyal, returning customers. In a series of four modules, plus a bonus module, you will learn how to leverage Instagram to grow your brand, drive traffic to your site and increase your income. REGISTER HERE: http://sidehustlepro.co/masterthegram

Side Hustle Pro is now over 1000 members strong. If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here:http://sidehustlepro.co/mastermind

Social Media Info

Today in the guest chair we haveMaya Elious. Maya is a personal branding strategist that teaches content creators and experts how to strategize, organize, and monetize their online business.

She creates online courses and coaching programs with a focus on teaching entrepreneurs how to get clear with their messaging so they can create premium content and products that will get them noticed and paid online.

She’s helped hundreds of students and clients launch & monetize blogs, online challenges, masterclasses, webinars, online courses and other successful content platforms so they can make an impact in their industry.

On this episode, Maya shares:

Her journey from designing MySpace pages to leaving college to become an entrepreneur

How she earns money today as a content strategist and coach

Her most simple sales funnel that anyone can replicate

The common misconceptions about being a coach or course instructor

Her number one pro tip for building an audience that craves your content

Side Hustle Pro Nicaila is back with a second check-in for 2017. Time is flying by. It seems like just the other day I was kicking off with the first episode of the year, and telling you guys about my mindset hacks for 2017. Now I'm here with some updates and progress reports.

I break this episode up into three main topics:

Number One: The Lessons I’ve learned since we last spoke

Number Two: How my 12-week sprint is going.

Number Three: What I’ve learned from launching my first online course, Master The Gram

Today in the guest chair we haveJihan Thompson.Jihan Thompson is a magazine editor turned entrepreneur, out to disrupt the haircare industry. She co-founded the company, Swivel Beauty, Inc., which wants to make it easier for women of color to build a beauty team that meets all their needs while also helping talented stylists behind the chair find new clients. Swivel's goal is to create a curated, referral-based experience so women can avoid useless trial and error in the beauty department.

Prior to launching Swivel, Jihan was the Health Editor for O, The Oprah Magazine. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Pennsylvania.

On this episode, Jihan shares:

The first steps she and her business partner Jennifer Lambert took to take Swivel Beauty from idea to business

How she juggled creating the Swivel Beauty, Inc. while working as a busy Health Editor at for O, The Oprah Magazine

The catalyst that made her finally say: “Yes, I can do this.”

Swivel Beauty’s approach to building strategic relationships with stylists and salons

The surprising online resource that’s been a lifesaver in her business

If you’re interested in growing your business and brand using the powers of Instagram, register forMASTER THE GRAM.Master The Gramis the ultimate Instagram course for business owners who want to attract their true fans and turn them into loyal, returning customers. In a series of four modules, plus a bonus module, you will learn how to leverage Instagram to grow your brand, drive traffic to your site and increase your income. REGISTER HERE: http://sidehustlepro.co/masterthegram

Side Hustle Pro is now over 1000 members strong. If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here:http://sidehustlepro.co/mastermind

Today in the guest chair we have a woman I consider the queen of apps. Her name is Sheena Allen and she is a tech entrepreneur. She started her first company in 2011 as a senior at the University of South Mississippi. At the time, she had no tech background and was a psychology and film major and on a whim decided to launch a mobile application company.

Giving herself a year to see if she would see any success with her company, Sheena Allen Applications, she eventually found that success with app #3, Dubblen. In fact, three months after launching the app for Android, Dubblen received over 500,000 downloads. That year, 2013, Sheena made the decision to leave Mississippi and move to a tech-hub to find mentor and increase her knowledge in the tech space.

Since then, she has gone on to experience frustration with raising money and the predatory lending practices in Silicon Valley, Sheena decided to fight back through the launch of a second startup, CapWay. CapWay is financial company that focuses on the unbanked and underbanked. The service offers financial literacy content and onboards unbanked users to get a bank account.She has been featured in various publications, including Forbes.com, BlackEnterprise.com, and EBONY Magazine. In late 2016, Sheena made her premiere in She Started It, a documentary film that follows five women around on their startup journey.

On this episode, Sheena shares:

The steps she took to create an app as a non-technical creator

How and why her third app became so successful

The challenges of raising money in Silicon Valley as a black women entrepreneur and some tips to overcome it

Announcements

Important Announcements:

If you’re interested in growing your business and brand using the powers of Instagram, register forMASTER THE GRAM.Master The Gramis the ultimate Instagram course for business owners who want to attract their true fans and turn them into loyal, returning customers. In a series of four modules, plus a bonus module, you will learn how to leverage Instagram to grow your brand, drive traffic to your site and increase your income. REGISTER HERE: http://sidehustlepro.co/masterthegram

Side Hustle Pro is now 1000 members strong. If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here:http://sidehustlepro.co/mastermind

Social Media Info

On this episode,style blogger and digital media expert Christina S. Brown joins us in the guest chair. Christina is the founder of the fast-growing style & beauty destination LoveBrownSugar.com, mommy destination BabyBrownSugar.com and digital empowerment community BrownGirlsLove.

As a Wharton grad with no formal editorial experience, Christina started her blog started out as a hobby and portfolio piece to get hired by magazines. She didn’t go into it with the intention of building a business or making money from it. Fast forward eight years and she’s been recognized everywhere from the New York Times to People StyleWatch as a top lifestyle expert, and is known for curating platforms for multicultural women with an emphasis on self-empowerment. Christina has been heralded as a “30 Under 30 Style Maven​” by HelloBeautiful.com, a “Top 40 Style Blogger​” by Essence Magazine, a Black Enterprise Magazine “Blogger Month​” Honoree, and a Wharton Magazine “Social Media Watch List​” Honoree.

On this episode, Christina shares:

The planning she did before leaving her full time job

How you can make money from blogging in the current landscape (all the revenue streams she pursues)

How NEW bloggers can approach sponsored opportunities

The difference between popularity and INFLUENCE

Her approach to expanding her original blog into new verticals, including live events

How to financially sustain yourself given the unpredictable nature of entrepreneurship

If you’re interested in growing your business and brand using the powers of Instagram, register forMASTER THE GRAM.Master The Gramis the ultimate Instagram course for business owners who want to attract their true fans and turn them into loyal, returning customers. In a series of four modules, plus a bonus module, you will learn how to leverage Instagram to grow your brand, drive traffic to your site and increase your income. REGISTER HERE: http://sidehustlepro.co/masterthegram

Side Hustle Pro is now almost 1000 members strong. If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here:http://sidehustlepro.co/mastermind

Today in the guest chair we have Lola Bakare, a Social Media Strategist, savvy Content Marketer and the founder of LOLA Consulting. LOLA Consulting specializes in digital marketing including user acquisition, brand messaging, partnership development, and social media strategy. Fun fact, Lola and I went to undergrad together and I admire her greatly. Why? Because she followed the path well traveled for many years, before finally leaping into entrepreneurship.

On this episode, Lola shares:

Her pathway from majoring in English at Penn to landing in Brand Management by chance

Why she ultimately got her MBA and how it influenced her current path as an entrepreneur

If you’re interested in growing your business and brand using the powers of Instagram, register forMASTER THE GRAM.Master The Gramis the ultimate Instagram course for business owners who want to attract their true fans and turn them into loyal, returning customers. In a series of four modules, plus a bonus module, you will learn how to leverage Instagram to grow your brand, drive traffic to your site and increase your income. REGISTER HERE: http://sidehustlepro.co/masterthegram

Side Hustle Pro is now almost 1000 members strong. If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here:http://sidehustlepro.co/mastermind

If you’re interested in growing your business and brand using the powers of Instagram, register for theMASTER THE GRAMmini course.Master The Gramis the ultimate Instagram course for business owners who want to attract their true fans and turn them into loyal, returning customers. In a series of four modules, plus a bonus module, you will learn how to leverage Instagram to grow your brand, drive traffic to your site and increase your income. REGISTER HERE:sidehustlepro.co/masterthegram

Side Hustle Pro is now almost 900 members strong. If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here:http://sidehustlepro.co/mastermind

As we head into 2017, Award winning Financial Planner and Personal Finance Coach Dominique Broadway blesses the guest chair to teach money management tips for entrepreneurs. Dominique is the Founder of Finances De•mys•ti•fied & The Social Money Tour. Shortly after launching Finances De•mys•ti•fied, she was named one of the top Financial Advisors in the United States for Millennials at the age of 28. What I love about Dominique is that she has transformed the reputation of personal finances into a social experience by making it engaging, easy to understand and even trendy.

Her demystified financial advice, has been highlighted on Yahoo!, Black Enterprise, Marketwatch.com, Ebony, USA Today and much more.

On this episode, Dominique shares:

How she went from managing million dollar investments for other people to branching out on her own as a Personal Finance Coach and Entrepreneur

How she learned to start treating her business like a business and not like a passion project

The biggest money mistakes entrepreneurs are making

Why you should make an income action plan and transform the way you manage your personal vs business finances

If you’re interested in growing your business and brand using the powers of Instagram, register for the MASTER THE GRAM mini course. Master The Gram is the ultimate Instagram course for business owners who want to attract their true fans and turn them into loyal, returning customers. In a series of four modules, plus a bonus module, you will learn how to leverage Instagram to grow your brand, drive traffic to your site and increase your income. REGISTER HERE: sidehustlepro.co/masterthegram

Side Hustle Pro is now over 800 members strong. If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here:http://sidehustlepro.co/mastermind

On this episode, we are welcoming back Meiko Drew, the Side Hustle Pro Entrepreneur-in-Residence. We’re following Meiko for an entire year to chronicle her journey from Corporate America retiree to the Founder of Food and Lifestyle brand MeikoAndTheDish. For those of you who don’t know, Meiko walked away from a six-figure salary at Target to focus on MeikoAndTheDish full time. Though it hasn’t always been smooth sailing, her brand is steadily rising and so it’s time to check in with her again to see how it’s all going.

On this episode Meiko shares:

How she’s partnering with brands and getting paid for it

How she’s monetizing her blog through different income streams

Her radical move from one city to the next and how it’s helped her hit her stride

Her vision and goals for 2017

Find out how Meiko is making it work despite the twists and turns life throws at her.

I'm doing a FREE Instagram Training this Wed, Dec 21 at 8PM ET. If you're interested in growing your business and brand using the powers of Instagram, this is for you! REGISTER HERE: http://sidehustlepro.co/getthegram

Side Hustle Pro is now over 800 members strong. If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here: http://sidehustlepro.co/mastermind

I’m checking in with an update on all things social media marketing: Specifically, Instagram. I have heard many of you ask: How can I organically grow my audience on Instagram? I see this question come up in most of the groups I am in and with most entrepreneurs. Now in Episode 7, I broke down How to Grow Explode Your Social Media Audience with Five Steps and Zero Dollars.

There, I went step by step through my methodology and the steps I used to grow my Instagram over 1000% in a year. Today, I am here with updates, updates. As you know, you miss a day you miss A LOT when it comes to social media. Case in point: The last time we spoke, there was no Instagram stories and certainly no Instagram LIVE.

On this episode, we will get into:

What’s working and what’s not on Instagram How to find your target audience on Instagram - *NEW INSIGHTS*

Today’s guest, isKalisa Martin, The Co-Founder ofThe Runaway Experience, a global travel pop-up designed to foster cultural discovery through unforgettable dining experiences, personal connections with local communities and meticulously curated adventures. Kalisa and her better half Jeff, a New York couple of Caribbean heritage, left the 9-5 city grind to pursue their passion for food, culture and travel. They stated with the creation of a community-oriented luxury bed & breakfast. After becoming the first and only successfully funded Bed & Breakfast on Kickstarter, they have quickly become the go-to destination for adventurous travelers seeking an authentic immersion into island life. Now, building on the experience they’ve begun in Jamaica, Kalisa and Jeff are expanding to new destinations around the world.

On this episode, Kalisa shares:

How she and partner Jeff initially launched The Runaway Jamaica, a community-oriented luxury bed & breakfast

How she got the courage to quit her 9-5 and pursue her entrepreneurial dreams

What she learned from creating the first and only successfully funded B&B on Kickstarter

Side Hustle Pro is now over 700 members strong. If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here:http://sidehustlepro.co/mastermind

Today’s guest is Arsha Jones, a serial entrepreneur and an emerging leader in the ecommerce industry. She has built multiple, highly profitable brands, with revenues approaching nearly a half million dollars in less than two years .As we speak, she is currently operating and managing Capital City Co, keeping you fly through the Tees in the Trap brand, building iOS apps for Apps By The Pound, all while running the design blog (and Facebook Group!), Brand Build Sell.

Her first venture, co-founded with her husband is Capital City Co, produces a Washington, DC area wing sauce called mambo sauce - a local staple. Her second company is Tees in the Trap, which is a lifestyle brand inspired by pop culture and infused with black girl magic.

On today’s episode, Arsha shares:

How she started the Capital City Co Mambo sauce in her kitchen and ended up on the front page of the Washington Post

How she launched her first t-shirt shop with no shirts and no supplies

How haters reporting and shutting down her Etsy shop gave her the motivation to launch her own ecommerce site

Why you should test and validate your ideas before spending a lot of money on branding and inventory

Side Hustle Pro is now almost 700 members strong. If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here:http://sidehustlepro.co/mastermind

On this episode, I'm providing another check in and update on how my own side hustle is going. How am I balancing my full-time job with my podcast, Side Hustle Pro brand and business AND wedding planning? On this episode I’m talking about:

The feeling of overwhelm, what it stems from and the ways I’m pushing through it. Tune in to hear my latest updates in this Side Hustle Pro journey!

Today’s guest, is Kelechi Anyadiegwu. Kelechi is the founder of Zuvaa, an online community and marketplace for African Inspired Fashion. Zuvaa helps emerging African Fashion Brands increase revenue, scale operation and streamline their process with our easy to use online platform for social selling and personal shopping. The mission of Zuvaa is to give African Fashion Labels the tools they need to transform their brands, and bring authentic African Inspired Fashion to the main stream. In 2016, Kelechi was named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for retail and e-commerce.

On this episode, you’ll learn how Kelechi got the idea and started Zuvaa with $500 and in 2016 is expected to earn $2 Million in sales.

Today in the guest chair we have a woman who is building a community of creatives all over the country. Melissa Kimble is a Chicago based Social Media Strategist and Writer who believes in using social media for good through education and empowerment. She is the Founding Editor of #BlkCreatives, a platform for young professionals of color. She also created and facilitates the #blkcreatives Twitter Chat Series. Melissa is also the Senior Social Media Manager for EBONY Magazine.

In this episode, she shares:

The first steps she took to start taking blkcreatives from idea to brand

A bold decision to pitch myself for an opportunity landed me right next to my business idol.

In early 2016, the Signature CEO conference landed on my radar as it was on the list of appearances CurlBox Founder and CEO Myleik Teele had on her website and it was right in my neck of the woods. Initially, I thought a conference specifically tailored to wedding and event planners would not be relevant to me. But when I took a closer look at the agenda, I realized the knowledge that would be shared would be both valuable and applicable to my own brand. I brainstormed ways that I could contribute value to the conference organizer and pitched myself to cover the conference as press.

On today’s episode, I get into:

Why you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take

Myleik Teele’s social media strategy gems to take your business to the next level

Why Shea Radiance Founder Funlayo Alabi wants us to dare to be different

I’m updating my Mastering The Cold Email templates. These are the exact emails I used to land even the most hard to reach guests plus pitch myself as press. Be the first to get it when you subscribe to the Side Hustle Pro newsletter here:SideHustlePro.co/SideHustleCorner

Side Hustle Pro is now 500 members strong. If you’re looking for a community of supportive side hustlers who are all working to take our businesses to the next level, join us here:http://sidehustlepro.co/mastermind

Joymarie had always been a web and design junkie. Since the age of 13 she was building website and blogs. But after flunking out of design school, she went through an eight year journey to finish her undergrad degree and land her dream job. Now Joymarie is determined to help other young professionals navigate their career journey.

As the co-host of Joblogues podcast, a weekly podcast that highlights candid career conversations with young professionals around the world, Joymarie is also breaking down the doors of podcasting and making waves as a featured iTunes podcast.

In this episode, we talk about:

Her turbulent journey to finding her dream job and discovering that she could be a resource for others

Why you should treat your day job as an investor in your side hustle

The BUSINESS of podcasting

Simple ways to raise the visibility of your podcast

Why youshouldn’tstart a podcast to make money

How to use podcasts as a platform to expand your brand

Inspired to start your own podcast? Check out this step-by-step guide to starting your own podcast with no experience.

Side Hustle Pro has a buzzing Facebook group! Get the support you need to create and grow your side hustle in the welcoming Side Hustle Pro Community on Facebook. I’m continually impressed by the level of support and candid conversation happening in our community. Join us here: SideHustlePro.co/Mastermind

Evelyn Ngugi is a Kenyan-American YouTube sensation literally blowing up the internet right now, and she can even count Beyoncé (yes, Queen Bey) among her fans (but we’ll get into that story on the episode). What’s it like to amass a huge following on YouTube and Facebook organically while you’re still figuring out your long term plan? On today’s episode, Evelyn shares how she balances being a popular YouTube and social media sensation with a regular 9to5 just like you and me. She is an example that even with a growing side hustle, we're all still just figuring it out as we go, and that’s OK.

On this episode we discuss:

Evelyn's “system” for developing and publishing content

How she’s grown her brand organically, without actively trying

What it’s like to have your work singled out by Beyoncé herself!

Why monetizing content on the internet is easy, but monetizing in a way that is sustainable is a different ball game

Why it’s important to differentiate what you enjoy doing and want to make money from, and what you actually want to do for a full-time job

Why you should get out there and explore your gift, even when you don’t have it all figured out

Side Hustle Pro has a buzzing Facebook group! Get the support you need to create and grow your side hustle in the welcoming Side Hustle Pro Community on Facebook. I’m continually impressed by the level of support and candid conversation happening in our community. Join us here: SideHustlePro.co/Mastermind

A rejection from Google was the best thing that ever happened to me. Two years ago I was an MBA intern at Google. I didn’t get the offer. Dejected, I refused to talk about it, unsure of how to unpack the experience. On today’s episode I’m sharing why that experience, along with other “rejections” were really blessings that positively fueled my side hustle mission. Here are just a few nuggets from this episode:

Google’s ‘No’ led me to my ultimate purpose: inspiring people to live unboxed and without apologies

Failure is an event, not a personality trait

Failure taught me to stop waiting to be chosen and instead choose myself

Everyone should start a side hustle, even if you don’t want to be a full-time entrepreneur

Important Announcements:If you listened to last week’s episodes, you know I’m gearing up to release the exact email templates I used to land even the most hard to reach guests. Be the first to get it when you subscribe to the Side Hustle Pro newsletter here:SideHustlePro.co/SideHustleCorner

Today’s featured guest Emmelie De La Cruz is best known for her ability to empower entrepreneurs, college students and young professionals to become more competitive in the market. Emmelie will be the first to tell you:“Entrepreneurship isn’t cute. It’s not an exit strategy or an alternative to a job you hate.”As a personal branding strategist and brand auditor, Emmelie is here to empower us all to gain clarity around our personal brands, build a credible brand from scratch and make money on our own terms. Her insights have been featured in Refinery 29, Black Enterprise, Cosmo for Latinas, The Miami Herald, PR Daily, and The Huffington Post. Most notably, Forbes named her site one of the top career websites in 2013.

On this episode we discuss:

Why having a side hustle is one of the most empowering things you can do

How she streamlined her business processes to provide value while saving time

How she cultivated her unique voice and set herself apart as a personal brand strategist

The importance of preparing for seasons of drought as an entrepreneur

What it takes to make a VALUABLE digital product (not just get rich quick schemes)

Why it’s so important to validate your ideas before you create a product

Important Announcements:If you listened to last week’s episode, you know I’m gearing up to release the exact email templates I used to land even the most hard to reach guests. Be the first to get it when you subscribe to the Side Hustle Pro newsletter here:SideHustlePro.co/SideHustleCorner

Side Hustle Pro has a buzzing Facebook group! Get the support you need to create and grow your side hustle in the welcoming Side Hustle Pro Community on Facebook. I’m continually impressed by the level of support and candid conversation happening in our community. Join us here: SideHustlePro.co/Mastermind